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A Week in Sicily: What to See and Do in 7 Days

A week in Sicily gives you a genuine taste of the Mediterranean’s largest island. Sicily carries thousands of years of layered history — Greek temples, Roman mosaics, Arab-Norman cathedrals, and Baroque piazzas all sitting side by side. Seven days lets you explore its cities, beaches, and countryside without feeling rushed. This guide covers the best of the island, from the chaotic streets of Palermo to the slopes of Mount Etna.

Seven days in Sicily works best if you fly into Palermo and out of Catania — or the reverse. This point-to-point approach means you do not need to backtrack across the island. It also lets you build your trip from west to east (or east to west), taking in very different landscapes and cultures as you go. Here is a day-by-day guide to make the most of your week.

Day 1 and 2: Palermo — Sicily’s Wild Capital

Arrive in Palermo and give yourself two full days here. Palermo is one of the most extraordinary cities in southern Europe — chaotic, colourful, and deeply layered with history. The city spent centuries under Arab, Norman, and Spanish rule, and you can feel all of those influences in its architecture, its food markets, and its street culture.

Start at the Palazzo dei Normanni, the Norman Palace, which dates back to the 9th century. Inside, the Cappella Palatina is one of the most dazzling rooms in Italy — a small royal chapel covered from floor to ceiling in gold Byzantine mosaics. It stops visitors in their tracks, every time.

From there, walk down to the Ballarò market. This is the oldest street market in Palermo, and it runs through a tangle of narrow streets in the oldest part of the city. Vendors sell fresh fish, vegetables, spices, and street food at full volume. Try the arancini — fried rice balls stuffed with meat ragù or cheese — and the panelle, crispy chickpea fritters eaten in a bread roll. This is Palermo eating at its most authentic.

On your second day, explore the historic churches and piazzas. The Cathedral of Palermo, with its mix of Norman, Gothic, and Baroque elements, tells the story of the city’s turbulent history in stone. The Quattro Canti — a spectacular Baroque crossroads in the heart of the old city — is one of Sicily’s most photographed spots. End the day with a seafood dinner in the Vucciria district.

Day 3: Agrigento and the Valley of the Temples

On day three, hire a car and drive south from Palermo to Agrigento. The drive takes about two hours, and it passes through a dramatic landscape of rolling hills, ancient farmhouses, and dry valleys. Agrigento itself is a pleasant town, but the reason most people make the journey is the Valley of the Temples on its outskirts.

Valley of the Temples

The Valley of the Temples is one of the most spectacular ancient sites in the world. It sits on a ridge overlooking the sea, and it contains a series of Greek temples built in the 5th century BC — some of the best-preserved outside of Greece itself. The Temple of Concordia, in particular, stands almost intact after 2,500 years. Walking through the site at dusk, as the golden light catches the stone columns, feels genuinely extraordinary.

Allow at least three hours to explore the site properly. There is a well-equipped museum nearby — the Archaeological Museum of Agrigento — which houses statues, pottery, and artefacts from the Greek and Roman periods. It adds important context to what you see at the temples. After your visit, drive back along the coast road towards your next destination.

Day 4: Baroque Towns — Ragusa and Modica

Day four takes you into the Val di Noto, the southeastern corner of Sicily that contains some of the finest Baroque architecture anywhere in Europe. A catastrophic earthquake destroyed most of this area in 1693, and the towns that rose from the rubble all follow the same ornate Baroque style. Ragusa and Modica stand out as the most rewarding stops.

Ragusa Ibla

Ragusa Ibla is the lower, older part of Ragusa, and it sits on a rocky spur looking out over a deep limestone valley. The streets here wind through clusters of palazzi and churches in honey-coloured stone, and the views from the belvedere at the top are spectacular. The whole area carries UNESCO World Heritage status, and for good reason.

Spend a couple of hours wandering Ragusa Ibla before driving the short distance to Modica. Modica is famous above all for its chocolate — a grainy, intensely flavoured dark chocolate made using an ancient Aztec recipe brought to Sicily via Spain in the 16th century. It contains no added fat or milk, just cocoa, sugar, and spices. Buy a bar from one of the old chocolate shops on Corso Umberto I and eat it in the street. It is unlike anything else.

For a broader look at what to eat across Sicily and southern Italy, our guide to Italian regional food offers a good starting point for understanding how dramatically cuisine changes from region to region.

Day 5: Syracuse — Greek Ruins and a Beautiful Island Town

Drive north from Modica to Syracuse, one of the most historically significant cities in Sicily. At its peak in antiquity, Syracuse rivalled Athens as the most powerful city in the Mediterranean world. Today it splits into two distinct areas — the archaeological park on the mainland, and the beautiful island of Ortigia connected by a bridge.

The Archaeological Park

The Archaeological Park of Neapolis contains an enormous Greek theatre carved directly into the hillside — one of the largest in the ancient world. The theatre still hosts performances in summer, and the sight of it at full scale takes your breath away. Nearby, the Ear of Dionysius is a cave-shaped like a human ear with extraordinary acoustic properties. A whisper at one end echoes clearly at the other. The site also contains a Roman amphitheatre and a series of ancient stone quarries that Athenian prisoners once worked.

After the park, cross to Ortigia — the island old town. It is a strikingly beautiful place, full of Baroque churches and palazzi built on top of Greek and Roman foundations. The Piazza del Duomo is one of the finest public squares in Italy, and the Cathedral of Syracuse itself stands on the columns of a 5th-century BC Greek temple that you can still see incorporated into the walls. Have dinner here overlooking the sea and the historic harbour.

If you want to explore more of Italy’s great historic cities, our guide to Padua covers another underrated Italian destination well worth adding to any longer trip.

Day 6: Taormina — Sicily’s Most Famous Resort Town

Drive north along the coast from Syracuse to Taormina. The journey takes about two hours, but the coastal road offers some of the most dramatic scenery in Sicily — the Ionian Sea stretching to the horizon on one side, and Mount Etna rising on the other. Taormina sits high on a clifftop above the sea, and its main street, Corso Umberto, runs between medieval gates through a succession of cafés, boutiques, and viewpoints.

The main sight in Taormina is the Teatro Antico — an ancient Greek-Roman theatre clinging to the hillside with Mount Etna looming behind it. The view from the theatre is one of the most photographed in all of Sicily, and it earns every photograph. Below the town, the beach at Isola Bella is lovely in summer, though it gets very busy in July and August.

Taormina is also an excellent base for an evening meal with views. The town has a good selection of restaurants, and the setting — clifftop, sea, volcano — makes even a simple plate of pasta feel special. Stay overnight here to be well-positioned for your final day on Mount Etna.

Day 7: Mount Etna — Ending on Europe’s Most Active Volcano

Save your final day for Mount Etna. Europe’s largest and most active volcano dominates the eastern side of Sicily, and visiting it is one of the most memorable things you can do on the island. From Taormina, the drive to the Etna Sud cable car station at Rifugio Sapienza takes about an hour.

The cable car carries you up to around 2,500 metres, and then you can walk or take a 4×4 guide vehicle to the summit craters at around 3,300 metres. The lunar landscape up here — black lava fields, steaming vents, and craters that glow red at night — is extraordinary. Even on a clear day, the temperature drops sharply above 2,500 metres, so bring an extra layer regardless of the weather below.

If you prefer a gentler Etna experience, the lower slopes offer excellent hiking through lava forests, vineyards, and orchards. The volcanic soil here produces some of Sicily’s finest wine, and several agriturismo farms on the lower flanks of the mountain offer tastings and local food. After your time on the volcano, head down to Catania airport for your flight home.

Planning to see more of Italy on this trip? Our two-week Italy itinerary shows how to combine Sicily with the mainland, and our Amalfi Coast guide covers another unmissable Italian destination just a short ferry crossing from the Sicilian shore.

Practical Tips for Your Week in Sicily

Hire a car for this itinerary. Sicily has public transport, but it is slow and infrequent outside the cities. With a hire car, you can move at your own pace and stop at viewpoints and villages that buses simply do not reach. Roads in Sicily vary in quality — the main autostrade are excellent, but rural roads can be narrow and poorly marked. Drive carefully and give yourself extra time on unfamiliar routes.

Book accommodation in advance, especially for summer visits (June to September). Taormina in particular fills up quickly from June onwards, and the best hotels and B&Bs often sell out months ahead. Palermo and Syracuse have more availability, but it is still worth planning ahead.

The best time to visit Sicily is April to June or September to October. The weather in these months is warm and sunny without the intense heat of July and August, when temperatures regularly reach 35°C or above. The Valley of the Temples and Mount Etna in particular are far more enjoyable to visit in cooler temperatures.

Eat where locals eat. In Sicily, this often means standing at a street stall eating arancini, panelle, or sfincione (Sicilian pizza) for lunch. Sit-down restaurants are excellent, but the street food culture here is among the best in Italy. Follow the queues and trust your instincts.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many days do you need to see Sicily properly?

Seven days gives you a solid introduction to Sicily’s highlights, covering Palermo, the Valley of the Temples, the Baroque south, Syracuse, Taormina, and Mount Etna. For a more relaxed pace with time for beaches and smaller villages, ten to fourteen days works better.

Is it worth hiring a car in Sicily?

Yes — hiring a car in Sicily makes a significant difference to your trip. Public transport between towns is slow and infrequent, and a car lets you reach viewpoints, beaches, and villages that buses skip entirely. Roads vary in quality, so leave extra time on rural routes.

What is the best base for exploring Sicily?

Palermo works well as a base for western Sicily, while Catania or Syracuse suits the east and south. If you have a car and plan a linear route, flying into Palermo and out of Catania (or vice versa) removes the need for a single base entirely.

When is the best time of year to visit Sicily?

April to June and September to October offer the best conditions — warm weather, manageable crowds, and lower prices than the peak summer months. July and August bring extreme heat and very busy tourist sites, particularly along the coast.

Is Sicily safe for tourists?

Sicily is safe for tourists. The island attracts millions of visitors each year without serious incident. Standard city precautions apply — watch your belongings in crowded markets and busy tourist areas — but Sicily is no more concerning than any other popular Italian destination.

You Might Also Enjoy

• Best Hidden Beaches in Sicily
• Italy in Two Weeks: First-Time Visitor Itinerary
• Amalfi Coast Travel Guide 2026

Plan Your Italy Trip

Ready to plan your Italian adventure beyond Sicily? Our Ultimate Italy Travel Guide covers everything you need to know — from the best regions to visit, to transport tips, visa advice, and insider recommendations from people who love Italy deeply.

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